Wednesday 31 December 2008

KS3 Resources - Geography Teaching Today

 image

This unit of work teaches resilience in the context of water and flooding. It delivers an understanding of awareness, preparedness and knowledge of what actions should be taken in the event of flooding; and of how changing physical and human processes bring about flooding in the first place. This unit nurtures vital skills for what might be termed "environmental citizenship", giving life-long advice about the protection of homes - and the need to always keep an open and inquiring mind that can identify risk.

The first half of the unit deals with flood risk in the UK - a key aspect of life on these islands. Basic Environmental Agency rules for adults (be aware, be prepared, know how to act) are looked at. The causes of flooding are then examined, including human accidents (plumbing). As part of the work, a local risk assessment should be conducted for home or school, using the engaging technique of flood-depth analysis - working out what losses different levels of water could bring to a room or building!

The second half of the unit returns to the theme of resilience and explores in greater depth the steps that students' parents or guardians can take in protecting their homes from possible flood or storm damage. Flood kits and flood-proofing techniques are examined before moving on to think about flood warnings. A close look is taken here at how new digital technologies can help get warnings to people quickly. There are plenty of opportunities for role playing also, through thinking about vulnerable people, such as the hard-of-hearing, for whom text message warnings have been a real blessing. Greater cultural understanding is fostered.

The unit closes with a look at the interdependence that exists between different groups of people and businesses living on flood plains. Using the metaphor of "river team players", students will think about how local groups can work together to try and build community resilience to flooding (becoming sensitive to the risks associated with some land-use changes). Attention is thus paid to the citizenship dimensions of flood management.

KS3 Resources - Geography Teaching Today

Waterwise - The Facts - Water in the UK

The UK has less available water per person than most other European countries. London is drier than Istanbul, and the South East of England has less water available per person than the Sudan and Syria. Water is scarce in parts of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as in England - large scale drought is already occurring in the UK, with the lowest rainfall, groundwater and reservoir levels for decades. Each person in the UK currently uses about 150 litres of water every day. This has been rising by 1% a year since 1930. This consumption level is not sustainable in the long-term.
f we do not take action now, climate change, population shifts and behaviour mean the UK will face increased water stress in the future.

Weir Wood Reservoir

Waterwise - The Facts - Water in the UK

The Water Page - Water Scarcity

 

It is a statement of the obvious that water is the most critical factor related to drought. Whilst lack of water is the primary cause of drought, there are a large number of factors which exacerbate and intensify the effects of lack of water. If these factors, many of which have little to do with water per se, are adequately managed, the consequences of the lack of water can be greatly reduced. For this reason drought management policy must take into account a wide variety of factors.

"In popular usage, "scarcity" is a situation where there is insufficient water to

The Water Page - Water Scarcity

Water Resources: Scientific Facts on Water Resources

Water Resources home

Water is essential for human survival and well-being and important to many sectors of the economy. However, resources are irregularly distributed in space and time, and they are under pressure due to human activity.

Water Resources: Scientific Facts on Water Resources

Water stress - summary

 Regional summary

Water stress - summary

BBC NEWS | England | Water metering plans put forward

 Water meter

Water metering in areas affected by serious water shortages is being proposed by the government and the Environment Agency.

A preliminary map of "water stressed" parts of England has been produced, with the whole of the South East being classified as "serious".

BBC NEWS | England | Water metering plans put forward

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Map details global water stress

 Infographic, BBC

The alarming extent of water scarcity across the world is detailed in a map compiled by a leading environmental think tank.

It shows two key types of scarcity; water is said to be either physically scarce or economically scarce.

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Map details global water stress

Planet Earth Online homepage

 NERC logo

Planet Earth Online

Environmental Information site

Planet Earth Online homepage

Natural disasters 'killed over 220,000' in 2008 - Yahoo! News UK

 Natural disasters 'killed over 220,000' ...

Natural disasters killed over 220,000 people in 2008, making it one of the most devastating years on record and underlining the need for a global climate deal, the world's number two reinsurer said Monday. Skip related content

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20081229/tsc-natural-disasters-killed-o...
http://www.munichre.com/en/press/press_releases/2008/2008_12_29_pre...
http://www.munichre.com/en/ts/geo_risks/default.aspx
http://www.munichre.com/en/ts/geo_risks/natcatservice/annual_statis...
http://www.munichre.com/en/ts/geo_risks/natcatservice/long-term_sta...
http://www.munichre.com/en/ts/geo_risks/natural_catastrophes_and_ri...

Natural disasters 'killed over 220,000' in 2008 - Yahoo! News UK

Tuesday 16 December 2008

Global water crisis

 

http://www.waterstandard.com/market.htm

Chapters - Human Development Reports (UNDP)

 2006 (JPG)

Chapters - Human Development Reports (UNDP)

Pacific Institute: Topics - Global Water Crisis

Over 1 billion people don't have access to clean drinking water; more than 2 billion lack access to adequate sanitation; and millions die every year due to preventable water-related diseases. Water resources around the globe are threatened by climate change, misuse, and pollution. But there are solutions: we can provide for people's basic needs while protecting the environment by using innovative water efficiency and conservation strategies, community-scale projects, smart economics, and new technology.

Pacific Institute: Topics - Global Water Crisis

Water Crisis

 

While the world's population tripled in the 20th century, the use of renewable water resources has grown six-fold. Within the next fifty years, the world population will increase by another 40 to 50 %. This population growth - coupled with industrialization and urbanization - will result in an increasing demand for water and will have serious consequences on the environment.

Water Crisis

Nature web focus: global water crisis

More then one billion people in the world lack access to clean water, and things are getting worse. Over the next two decades, the average supply of water per person will drop by a third, possibly condemning millions of people to an avoidable premature death. In this free web focus, Nature presents an analysis of the global water crisis with a collection of news, features and interactive graphics.

Nature web focus: global water crisis

Saturday 13 December 2008

World water crisis

World water crisis

BBC News World World water crisis

Water scarcity: A looming crisis?

Indian farmer, AP

The amount of water in the world is finite. The number of us is growing fast and our water use is growing even faster.

A third of the world's population lives in water-stressed countries now. By 2025, this is expected to rise to two-thirds.

There is more than enough water available, in total, for everyone's basic needs.

BBC NEWS Science/Nature Water scarcity: A looming crisis?

World Forum | Water

World Water Forum

BBC NEWS Special Reports 2003 World Forum Water

Thursday 11 December 2008

Magic Map

Use 'Magicmap' to help students understand how to use map symbols and grid references.

Magic Map

Making the Modern World - Introduction

Geography of energy frontis

Making the Modern World - Introduction

The carbon atlas | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Climate change: The carbon atlasNew figures published today confirm that China has overtaken the US as the largest emitter of CO2. This interactive emissions map shows how the rest of the world compares. Global C02 emissions totalled 29,195m tonnes in 2006 – up 2.4% on 2005 .

INTERACTIVE MAP

The carbon atlas Environment guardian.co.uk

Monday 8 December 2008

Hazards Year 13 January 2009

Building Design: http://www.unisdr.org/eng/about_isdr/isdr-publications/joint-pub/Handbook26-03-07.pdf

Disaster Statistics: http://www.unisdr.org/disaster-statistics/introduction.htm

Disaster Trends pdf: http://www.unisdr.org/disaster-statistics/pdf/isdr-disaster-statistics-occurrence.pdf

Disaster Statistics - Impacts: http://www.unisdr.org/disaster-statistics/pdf/isdr-disaster-statistics-impact.pdf

Economic Disaster Statistics - Top 50 countries: http://www.unisdr.org/disaster-statistics/pdf/isdr-disaster-statistics-50top-countries.pdf

2005 Disasters in numbers: http://www.unisdr.org/disaster-statistics/pdf/2005-disaster-in-numbers.pdf

http://www.cred.be/ site which has a "Disasters of the week" section !

Relief Web covers a very wide variety of disasters from natural to humanitarian and also provides excellent maps of population movements. A useful site for those looking for refugee data recently.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/doc106?OpenForm

Stop Disasters

Urban change for rural China

The rural White Horse Village

Deep in Wuxi County in the west of China, a sleepy village is undergoing radical change - a symbol of China's economic revolution.

BBC NEWS Programmes Newsnight Urban change for rural China

Sunday 7 December 2008

BBC - China Stories

VIDEO Resources

Xiao Di is a ten year old boy who lives in Beijing and is a product of China's one child policy.

"The disadvantage about the One Child Policy is that single children find it difficult to make friends... sometimes he feels lonely." - Xiao Di's mum.

BBC - China Stories - Xiao Di - the single child

Thursday 4 December 2008

Hazelwick School Online : Curriculum

A set of exercises on the resources

Hazelwick School Online : Curriculum

Wednesday 3 December 2008

Princes Dock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Image:Aa princesdock north end.jpg

Princes Dock is a dock on the River Mersey and part of the Port of Liverpool. It is the most southerly of the docks situated in the northern part of the Liverpool dock system, connected to Princes Half Tide Dock to the north. The dock is now in the buffer zone to Liverpool's World Heritage Site.

Princes Dock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS | PRINCES DOCK | Invest in Liverpool and Merseyside

Invest in Liverpool & Merseyside

MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS PRINCES DOCK Invest in Liverpool and Merseyside

The Fourth Grace

The creation of the Royal Liver Building celebrated a confident city and its past. The brief for the Fourth Grace called for a symbol of Liverpool’s future, a landmark building that would provide a dynamic and flexible venue for major public activity, exploiting the prominent riverside location. The site has expansive river views but is open and enviromentally challenging. RRP’s design proposed a serpentine roof form with ribbons of glazing creating a sheltered environment for diverse activity whilst framing views of the River Mersey. The scheme was intended to provide a contemporary identity for the city - a catalyst for Liverpool’s ongoing urban regeneration.

Integration of public transport systems was key to the future success of the scheme – RRP proposed tram links from north to south, connections between the commercial, retail, educational, cultural quarters, links to James Street Station and the underground and rail network, full integration with bus routes, maximising transportation opportunities offered by the waterways and enhancing the Cruise Liner Terminal and ferry links.

IMAGES

The Fourth Grace

BBC - Liverpool - How We Built Britain - Fourth Grace

Fourth Grace

Fourth Grace

As a designated World Heritage Site Liverpool is facing questions and debate about how far development should go, particularly on the famous waterfront.

VIDEO

BBC - Liverpool - How We Built Britain - Fourth Grace

Pier Head

Image:Liverpool Pier Head.jpg

The Pier Head is a riverside location in the city centre of Liverpool, England. It is part of the Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was inscribed in 2004.[1] [2]

Pier Head - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Liverpool City Council The City - Home page

home page

Liverpool City Council The City - Home page

Liverpool Vision - A Changing City - Development Map

Liverpool Vision - A Changing City - Development Map

BigDig

BigDig logo

The City Centre Movement Strategy (CCMS) is a £73m programme of works by partners Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Vision and Merseytravel to improve the roads, streets and public spaces in Liverpool city centre.

BigDig

Kings Waterfront, Kings Dock, Liverpool, Liverpool Arena, Kings Development, Capital of Culture

Kings Waterfront, Liverpool, Kings Dock

Kings Waterfront, Kings Dock, Liverpool, Liverpool Arena, Kings Development, Capital of Culture

Canal Corridor Framework

Birmingham City Council

Canal Corridor Framework

Locate Birmingham

Locate Birmingham - Welcome

URBAN EARTH: MUMBAI - URBAN EARTH on blip.tv

Films on LONDON and MUMBAI

URBAN EARTH: MUMBAI - URBAN EARTH on blip.tv

Monday 1 December 2008

BirminghamUK Photos

BirminghamUK Photos

Brindleyplace

Brindleyplace

Discover tree lined streets, unusual water features, clear open spaces and striking architecture.
Renown for its tantalising choice of bars, cafés and restaurants, visitors can savour a truly international flavour at the popular waterfront scheme, with something for everyone. Other visitor attractions include contemporary art galleries, the Crescent Theatre and The National SEA LIFE Centre.

Brindleyplace: What's Here

Life in UK 'has become lonelier'

Changing UK

Community life in Britain has weakened substantially over the past 30 years, according to research commissioned by the BBC.

Analysis of census data reveals how neighbourhoods in every part of the UK have become more socially fragmented.

BBC NEWS UK Life in UK 'has become lonelier'